Spotify adds AI-powered Recap button to select English audiobooks on iOS
We’ve spotted a new AI-powered button in Spotify’s iOS app that tries to spare you the hassle of rewinding an entire chapter. Right now it only shows up on a few English-language audiobooks, but Spotify hints it’ll roll out to more titles eventually. If you’re halfway through a novel, a quick tap summons a short summary crafted by the service’s language models - handy for picking up where you left off after a break.
It feels like a tentative move toward putting generative AI into the audiobook world, though the tiny initial pool makes it unclear how fast the feature will spread across the catalog. Here’s what Spotify says about the rollout:
"The Recap button will show up automatically on some English-language audiobooks in the iOS app. Recaps will be available automatically in the iOS app for a limited number of English-language audiobooks, with plans to expand to more audiobooks in an unspecified time frame. While the Recap button is a"
The Recap button will show up automatically on some English-language audiobooks in the iOS app. Recaps will be available automatically in the iOS app for a limited number of English-language audiobooks, with plans to expand to more audiobooks in an unspecified time frame. While the Recap button is always present on supported titles, you will have to listen to more than 15-20 minutes of the audiobook to get a summary, according to the Spotify blog post on the feature.
After that, Recaps will be "regularly updated" as you progress through the audiobook. It's "designed to help people finish the books they start," the company says in the blog. Markert called the feature "an audio bookmark that speaks" in the company blog.
As sophisticated as it is smart, this feature is a must for any audiobook lovers out there." Spotify made clear that Recaps uses AI, but maintains that the original works -- including the book content and voice narration -- remain protected. "We are not using audiobook content for LLM training purposes or voice generation, and Recaps do not replicate narration or replace the original audiobook in any way," Spotify's research director of LLMs, Paul Bennett, wrote in the blog post.
Will listeners actually find the AI-driven Recap useful, or does it end up as a gimmick? Spotify now drops a Recap button on a few English-language audiobooks in its iOS app, showing a short summary of what you’ve already heard. They market it as a “previously on” clip, hoping to spare you the hassle of rewinding.
At the moment only a handful of titles get the button, and Spotify hasn’t said which ones or how many. They talk about expanding the feature to more books, but there’s no clear timetable, so the rollout scope stays fuzzy. The AI that writes the summaries is described in vague terms, so we can’t say yet how accurate or relevant the recaps will be.
Because the button pops up automatically, it might smooth the listening flow - or it could break the narrative for some people. In the end, the real test will be whether the AI nails the key plot points and if listeners feel the convenience outweighs any interruption.
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Common Questions Answered
When does the Recap button become available for a listener on Spotify's iOS audiobook app?
The Recap button appears automatically on supported English-language audiobooks, but listeners must have played more than 15‑20 minutes of the title before a summary can be generated. This requirement ensures enough content has been consumed to produce a meaningful recap.
What type of content does Spotify's AI‑powered Recap button summarize?
The Recap button provides a concise summary of the portion of the audiobook that the user has already heard. It uses Spotify's language models to create a brief “previously on” segment, helping listeners catch up without rewinding the entire chapter.
Is the Recap feature currently available for all Spotify audiobooks on iOS?
No, the Recap button is limited to a handful of English-language titles in the iOS app. Spotify has not disclosed the exact number or titles, but it plans to expand the offering to more audiobooks over an unspecified time frame.
How does Spotify intend to expand the AI‑driven Recap functionality in the future?
Spotify says it intends to broaden the Recap feature to include more English-language audiobooks, though it has not provided a specific timeline. The rollout will likely follow the initial testing phase on iOS before potentially reaching other platforms.